Hispanic Heritage Month @riclibrary: Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

Rhode Island Latino Arts was founded in 1988 as the Hispanic Heritage Committee and today is Rhode Island’s leading nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to the promotion, advancement, development and cultivation of Latino arts.

Written and Directed by Francis Parra. Art Design by Raúl Velasquez. In April 2020, 45% of the cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island were Latinx. The demographics show that only 13% of the population is Latinx. Why this discrepancy? Teatro ECAS presents a documentary play based on interviews conducted with front line healthcare workers and Latinx essential workers. Due to lack of health insurance or indefinite immigration status, vulnerable people lost their lives in silence, solitude and bitterness during the pandemic.

Teatro ECAS presents the experiences of a segment of the LatinX population of Rhode Island. The actors of ECAS portray the racial disparities highlighted by Coronavirus. This virus attacked and affected disproportionately Hispanics in the United States.

Escrita y dirigida por Francis Parra. Diseño arte: Raúl Velasquez. En Abril 2020, 45% de los casos de COVID-19 en Rhode Island fueron personas Latinx. La demográfica muestra que solo un 13% de la población es Latinx. ¿A que se debe esta discrepancia? Teatro ECAS presenta una obra documental basada en entrevistas conducidas con personas que laboran en el campo de salud y personas Latinx consideradas trabajadores esenciales. Debido a falta de seguro medico, estatus migratorio, personas vulnerables perdieron sus vidas en silencio, en soledad y con amargura durante la pandemia.

Teatro ECAS presenta las vivencias de un sector de la población Latinx en Rhode Island y con actores de ECAS que llevan a escena las disparidades raciales por causa del Coronavirus el cual atacó en forma desproporcionada a los hispanos en Estados Unidos y ocupando el mayor índice de la población infectada por el COVID-19.

Achieving the 'American dream' has always been a priority for the Rodriguez family. Through vignettes of events we meet Fernando, an adventurous businessman and Marta, the backbone of Fernando’s success. But the more successful the business is growing, the more it would affect their relationship. Tired of being mistreated, Marta decides to take action. Little does she know what will come next for Fernando, not even tequila can cure the mind. Only Marta, better known as ‘abue’ can continue the legacy of the tortilleria and bring out the true meaning of family.

Performer, Teaching Artist and Writer in the making, Jennifer Sanchez (RIC Calss of 2016) is collaborating with LatinX performers to launch a pre-recorded virtual live of Abue! She was recently awarded two times an Individual Project Grant from Rhode Island Council of the Arts (2019, 2020) to further the development of her play 'Abue!' In an effort to provide opportunity and representation for LatinX performers on stage.The cast features: Magnolia Perez, Robert Asencio, Ashley Soto, Misael Romano,Miguel Santos, Iris Yinette Corporan, Scarling Ferrera, Taixa Lenid, Analia Alcolea.

New York’s leading Latino cultural institution, El Museo welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to discover the artistic landscape of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures. Their richness is represented in El Museo’s wide-ranging collections and exhibitions, complemented by film, literary, visual and performing arts series, cultural celebrations, and educational programs.

Smithsonian collections reflect the rich diversity of Latinx art and artists. The Smithsonian American Art Museum's growing Latinx art collection represents the rich contributions of Latinxs to our country from the colonial period to the present with artworks that range from colonial religious works and woven textiles to abstract expressionist paintings and contemporary installations. Artists featured in the collection reflect the diversity of Latinx communities in the United States, including artists of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican descent, as well as other Latin American groups with deep roots in the United States.

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) was founded in 1996 in Long Beach, California and serves the greater Los Angeles area. MOLAA is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art. Since its inception, MOLAA has doubled its size and added a 15,000 sq. ft. sculpture garden. Its permanent collection now numbers over 1,300 works of art.